Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel defended Joe Biden’s decision to grant a full pardon to his son, Hunter Biden, during his opening monologue on Monday.

Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, with his attorney Abbe Lowell, right, arrive for a press conference outside the United States Capitol where Biden spoke to reporters and offered to publicly testify in House Republican’s request on Dec. 13, 2023 in Washington, D.C.

The controversial pardon, announced Sunday, has drawn widespread criticism, with many pointing out that Biden had previously vowed not to use his presidential powers to shield his son from legal consequences.

Kimmel attempted to spin the story as humorous, saying there was a “very good chance” the president didn’t remember his earlier pledge. “Yes, Joe Biden did say he wasn’t going to pardon Hunter, but to be fair there’s a very good chance he doesn’t remember saying that,” Kimmel quipped.

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The late-night host went on to downplay the controversy, likening it to a carefree moment in Biden’s presidency. “The Biden presidency has now entered the ‘grandpa doesn’t give a damn about you’ stage,” Kimmel said.

Kimmel also joked about the timing of the pardon, saying, “No one has more to be thankful for this weekend than Hunter Biden. I am not a presidential historian, but I believe this is the first time a U.S. president has pardoned both his son and a turkey in the same week.”

Kimmel then shifted his focus to President-elect Donald Trump, taking a jab by claiming that Trump “moved on this news like a bitch,” referencing past controversies surrounding Trump.

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Meanwhile, CBS’s late-night host Stephen Colbert also weighed in, jokingly praising Biden for the pardon. “I’m not sure if Joe Biden pardoning his son was the right thing to do, but you certainly earned that ‘World’s Greatest Dad’ mug,” Colbert said.

The jokes came in response to Biden’s Sunday announcement, which included a statement defending the pardon.

The president claimed that the charges against his son were politically motivated and that Hunter had been “selectively and unfairly prosecuted.”

Biden added, “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.”

Hunter Biden also released a statement following the pardon, describing his actions as “mistakes” made during “the darkest days of my addiction.”

He accused critics of exploiting his situation to “publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport.”

Hunter Biden had faced legal troubles stemming from federal gun charges and tax evasion.

The president’s decision to pardon his son has sparked outrage, particularly among conservatives who view it as a double standard undermining the rule of law.

The controversy has also reignited criticism of Hunter Biden’s prior media appearances, including a 2021 interview on Kimmel’s show where he promoted his memoir.

This latest development has added fuel to ongoing debates about accountability, favoritism, and the Biden-Harris administration’s approach to ethics.

Critics argue that the pardon sets a troubling precedent, while supporters claim it was a necessary act of compassion from a father to his son.